Package-sealing apparatus.



Not 848,706. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907..

J. H. TUTTLE. PACKAGE SEALING APPARAT U S.

APPLIU ATION FILED 51111.11, 1907.

UNITED STATES earner orsron.

JOSEPH n. TUTTLE, OF WEST SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To CLARENCE B. FROST, or CAMBRIDGE, MASSASHUSETTS- ,7 PACKAGE-SEALING APPARATUS.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Ap lication 516.1 January 11,1907. Serial No. 351.847.

To whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. TUTTLE, of

* West Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Sealing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to package-sealing apparatus.

- improved means for directing a'strip of bind- The object of the invention is to provide ing-tape to a device for rendering the tape adhesive and thence to the package which is tobe sealed... including improved means for severing the part which is used on the package from the strip and for retaining the tab end of the strip projecting in a position con- 'venient /for use with the next package, but

out of contact with the device for rendering it adhesive.

To this end the invention comprises two surfaces spring -'pressed together, between which the tape passes, arranged at such an angle and position that the tape on issuing therefrom is projected over a device for rendering it adhesive. On the farther side of the device the tape passes under a guide-pin and through a swinging carriage, which holds each side of the tape with a light grip, allows a slight forward-and-backward movement thereof, and at the same, time readily permits'the removal of the tape from the carriage by the operator to render the tab end adhesive. The severing-knife is placed above and beyond the carriage and is mounted pivotally, sothat when not in use the knife recedes on being touched, but is rendered firm and operative when the tape is to be severed; owing to engagement of a tailpiece on' the knife with a rear part of the strip of tape.

- The plates which project the'tape are curved,

giving an arch shape to the tape, thus stiffen- .ing it and assisting in preventing its contact with the device for rendering it adhesive eX- cept when it is drawn into contact therewith by superior force in the act of drawing the tape from the apparatus.

The details of the foregoing and of other parts of the invention are set forth hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents a side view of the apparatus embodying the invention, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of part of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a front view of. the same. Fig. 4 is a cross-section showing the form assumed by the tape at the point a 4 of Fig. 1 after passing through the projecting device. Fig. 5 represents another detail viewed approximately in the direction of. line of travel of the tape.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents a frame in which is supported a device for rendering tape adhesive. As here represented this consists of a water-pan 11, into which a wheel 12 dips, .the surface of the wheel being covered with an absorbent material, so that moisture rises either by rotation of the wheel or by capillary attraction and maintains the top surface thereof moist. The water an is replenished from a closed reservoir 13, which has a neck 14 terminating below the surface of the pan. Whenever the level of water in the pan falls below the orifice of the neck 14, a little air enters and a correspond ing amount of water escapes into the pan 11 until the level of water is raised and the orifice sealed thereby.

It is contemplated that with this device tape will be employed in which a coating of gum or mucillaginous material has been applied to one surface of, the tape and dried .thereon, re uiring only the addition moisture to ma e it adhesive; but it is obvious that the pan might contain mucilage instead of'water or that another \form of device for rendering the tape adhesive might be substituted. The tape is marked 15 and when heing drawn forth passes under guide-pin 16,

through directing and. arch-fhrming plates '17 18, over moistening-wheel 12, under guidepin 19, through carriage 20, and thence-out from the apparatus. The supply of tape may be drawn from any convenient" source. The plates 17 18 are preferably curved in a direction transverse to the line of travel of the tape, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 5. A convenient method of SuPPOl'tlIlgfiil archprojecting plates 17 18 is represented in. Fig. 5, in which the plate 18 is shown su-pperted by a shank 24, which is fastened by screwr21 to a support rising from the backside of the water-pan. The shank of the top plate 1? has a tang 22, which passes through a slot in the shank 24 and. is adjustable with respect to the under plate by a screw 23, being made of spring metal. The plate 17 is archedin ferns, and the proximity of the plates 17 and upward against the external guide-pin 19.

Guide-pin '19 is so located that the straight line between its under surface and the directing-plates intersects the moistening-whcel, so

. that when the tape is drawn taut, as in withdrawing tape from the apparatus, the'tendency of the tape to assume a straight line inevitably brings it against the moisteningwheel, as shown by the full lines 15 in Fig. 1,

A tab-carriage of peculiar form (shown best in Fig. 3) constitutes another feature of the invention. As here illustrated the carriage consists of a piece of wire hung from .pins 25 on top of the guide-pin 19 and capable of a slight to-and-fro swinging motion in a direction of travel of the tape. The wire comprises side uprights 26, close under the guide-pin, inclined shelves 27, next thereunder, and an outward, bend 28 below that, so that the lower portions 29 fall outside the width of the .moistening-wheel. While the shape and arrangement of these parts may be varied in many ways, the form here illustrated shows the main features of this portion of the invention, the features thus described bein'g duplicated on each side of the medial lineof the tape.T The space'between the parts 26 is preferably the precise width of the tape, altl'lough the device will work if it be a little less or a little more. The parts 27 are designed to project under the tape a little, enough to support it, except-when the tape is removed by superior force, and the angle between parts 28 and 29 is so located that when sprung backward its contact with the moisteningwhecl, as shown in Figs. 3 and 1, forms the rearward limit of swing of the wire. The swing of this carriage need be but slight. XVhen the tape is withdrawn from the apparat us, it is normally in contact with the under side of the pin 19, and its incidental con tact with the closely-adjacent upright portion 26 of the carriage draws the carriage forward. hen the tab end is released by severing the tape, as hereinafter described, the forward draft ceases and the tape tends to assume the dotted position shown in Fig. 1.

The rising of the portion 30 of the tape from the full-line position to the dotted-line position 30 requires withdrawal of the tab end slightly into the apparatus, and the carriage 'swings inward to permit this.

It should be understood that when the ness of the tape will generally hold it against the under side of guide-pin 19 but if an in elt. tic tape be used or under some conditions of weather there is a tendency of the tab end to sag, and when this happens the tape is supported upon the side shelves 27 and frequently slightly adheres thereto; but the inovability of the carriage permits carriage and tape to swing inward together, and thus permit the point to rise to position 30, whereas if the carriage were not movable the adhesion might be sufficient to prevent the point 30 from rising out of contact with the moistning-wheel. Under conditions of ordinary use the tab end retains its nioisture 'sufiicient for adhesion from the point 30 to the end of the projecting tip 15; but if the end becomes dry the operator may with his hand remove the tape from the shelves by pulling the same downward, when the tape will bend a little at each edge and pass below, and he can then touch the same to the moistening-wheel below, and upon raising it again the portions 28 will guide it back to its normal situation.

When the tape is to be severed, the operator, holding it or a package to which it is attached, raises it toward the severing-blade 31. The arrangement and mounting of this constitute another feature of the invention, the blade having a shank 32 and a pivotal support close to the blade between'it and the shank. When the tape is raised into contact with the blade the blade tends to recede, swinging around the pivot 33. This throws the shank 32 forward into contact with. the portion of the tape near the guide-pin 19, which stops its forward movement, and thus stops recession of the blade 31, so that the the touch, and thus doing noharm to the person. In case of accidental contact of a person with the projecting tab end which might push the same back into the apparatus out of reach such effect is prevented by the friction of the side portions 26 or 27 of the carriage upon the tab and also by the transverse arch back of the point. 30, which enables the plates 17 18 to hold the tape stiff against backward pressure. The plates 17 18 also furnish a tension which maintains the forward part of the tape always in proper relation to the moistening device and at the same time eliminates the necessity of a tension device upon the supply-roll or upon the entrance of the tape to the apparatus. The tension is increased by adjusting these plates nearer together, which also makes the arch of sharper curvature and causes the arch to ex tend farther over the moistening device betape has been'severed the elasticity and stiffl fore the paper reassumes its. natural :fiat 1 o having but little stifiness to be used. T e adjustment can be varied according to the kind'of tape in use.- The archformiug lates are not necessarily of the precise form s own, and particularly to be as broad as here shown, the arch effect being produced by a member, such as 18, pressing the middle of one side of the tape in one direction and a member or members, such as 17, pressing the edges of the other side of the tape in the opposite direction. It will also be noted that the arch may be inverted from the form here shown with like effect. If the arch-forming feature be omitted, a higher degree of stiffness andelasticity of the tape is required, and the directing-plates should then have a suflicient number of points arranged in parallelism in the direction the tape istraveling to project it definitely in the desired direction,

Another advantage of the arch formation is that in case a drop of water runs backward down the tape fromthe high point 30 it seeks the lowest path and passes the guide-plates 17 18 without touching them or moistening any part of'the gummed tape which is in contact therewith, thus avoiding adhesion of the tape thereto. This is because the guideplates 1718 are preferably so arranged that the guide-bearing on the under side of the tape makes contact only with the higher portions of such under side. As represented in the drawings, the plate 18 contacts against the top of the arch, While any drop of water running down seeks a path along the base of the arch.

The severing apparatus here shown is an ii'nprovcment upon the devices for a similar purpose heretofore proposed inthat it is here proposed to mount the blade in its operative position, which may be exposed to accidental contact with the person. I

I claim a 1. A device for rendering tape adhesive, in combination with means for arching the tape transversely and directing the same over said a evi ce.

2. A device for rendering tape adhesive, 1n combination with uides pressing the edges and. the center of the tape in opposite directions, forming a transverse arch in the tape, and directing the tape over said device.

A device for rendering tape adhesive, in combination with means directing the tape the plate 18 does not need 'ufiWV'aICl over said device, forming it into a e of uneven levels transverselyand supits under side only at the upper levels porting thereof.

combination with plates set substantially parallel to each other, engaging opposite sides of thetape and-directing it thereover, there being a mutually-opposing spring and screw for adjusting the one plate with respect to the other.

6. A device forrendering tape adhesive, in combinationwith a carriage on the delivery side thereof, movable fore and aft and engaging the tape edgewise,

7. A device for rendering tape adhesive, in combination with a support adjacent to the delivery side of the device, comprising side shelves supporting the edges of the projecting tape, there being a space free of support for tape between the shelves.

8. A. device forrendering tape adhesive, in combination with a support adjacent to the delivery side of the device, comprising side shelves supporting the edges of the projecting tape out of contact with said device, the space between the shelves being free of support for tape, and there being side guides between said device and the inner edges of said shelves.

9. A severing device for tape, comprising a guide for the tape a lever, having at one end a portion adapted to be engaged by tape proceedingtfrom the guide; a fulcrum, and a severing-blade at-its other end, beyond the ful-' crum, normally projecting in operative position, the first end being approximately in line between it and said guide and thus giving leverage against the tape to hold the blade against recession when the tape is being severed.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my sig nature, in presence of two Witnesses, at Boston, January 9, 1907.

JOSEPH n. rU'rrLn. VVitnesses EVERETT E. KENT, CLARENCE B. Fnosr.

set substantially 

